The college football season is less than two weeks away. Whether you love to cheer on your favorite school, tailgate with friends and family or just explore a new American town, there are plenty of places to take your passion this coming fall.

Here are the 20 towns not to be missed.?

Not long removed from back-to-back national championships, the Georgia Bulldogs will have Athens buzzing this fall as they welcome back one of the best teams in the country.

The city itself is always turned on as first-time visitors will be pleasantly surprised by Athens' underrated live music scene, mouthwatering culinary offerings, local craft brews and art galleries and museums.

Clemson won a national championship as recently as 2018 and has reached the College Football Playoff more than a half-dozen times so it goes without saying that this?South Carolina?town is electric come gameday.

Clemson is especially appealing to?outdoor enthusiasts?and?history buffs. It's nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and home to the South Carolina Botanical Garden as well as Fort Hill Plantation and Old Stone Church. The latter was built well over 200 years ago.

Another exciting college town for football fans and outdoorsy types alike, Morgantown is home to the West Virginia Mountaineers, a team with high expectations in 2025 with the return of head coach Rich Rodriguez.

If?hiking, biking, kayaking and canoeing aren't your thing, head to the farmers market, go for a tasting at Forks of Cheat Winery or tour the Museum of Geology and Natural History.

Many of the top things to see and do in State College revolve around Penn State University and the third-ranked Nittany Lions football team.

Visitors will want to book a stay at the Nittany Lion Inn, stroll the Arboretum at Penn State as well as tour the Palmer Museum of Art. Nearby Rothrock State Forest also offers plenty of hiking opportunities while Millbrook Marsh Nature Center is a great place to view wildlife.

Tuscaloosa is one of the?best cities to be a sports fan as the Crimson Tide have won 18 national titles. If greatness bores you, there's plenty of other things to see and do, including fishing, boating and pulse-pounding water sports on Lake Tuscaloosa, the Riverwalk, the five-acre Government Plaza and the Children's Hands-On Museum.

A roughly three-hour drive southeast of Tuscaloosa is Auburn, a city best known for its namesake university. If you're not watching the Tigers in action at Jordan-Hare Stadium, you can still dive into art, nature and history.

Explore the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, tour Toomer's Corner and the Old Main and Church Street Historic District or make an appointment to visit the Auburn University Raptor Center for an informative bird show.

Knoxville is the epitome of a hidden gem. Although its home to one of the most beloved college football teams in the country in the Tennessee Volunteers and one of the best all-around gameday experiences, it's much more than a college sports town as it's home to stellar live music, fascinating historic sites and a booming arts scene that comes to life on the first Friday of every month.

There'll be plenty of excitement to watch the Virginia Tech Hokies take the field in Blacksburg,?Virginia?this fall. The city is also known for its many museums, art galleries and outdoor spaces. Visitors will want to make sure to tour the Historic Smithfield Plantation and pay their respects at the April 16 Memorial, a monument honoring the victims of 2007's Virginia Tech shooting.

Ann Arbor¡ªhome to the 2023 national champion Michigan Wolverines and the largest stadium in the U.S. in "The Big House"¡ªis a?huge hit with millennials but there's also a lot for families, including parks, museums and escape rooms. Ann Arbor also boasts charming neighborhoods like Main Street that visitors won't want to miss.

There's a strong case to be made that?Madison?is the greatest college football town in America, beginning with the fact that fall Saturdays are electric in the Wisconsin capital. It helps that the Badgers have done a lot of winning over the years. Nonetheless, the tailgates that precede the games are legendary and the fun spills out onto State Street shortly after the games end.

Located on the Willamette River two hours south of?Portland, Eugene is routinely named one of the best cities in America to live. It's also home to the University of Oregon.

While the Ducks football team is known for its unique uniforms and winning ways, Eugene is renowned for its scenic green spaces, which include calming parks, hiking trails, gardens, picnic areas and hilltops offering up sweeping views of western?Oregon.

Visitors to Iowa City this fall can participate in one of college football's most heartwarming traditions during a University of Iowa home game when the entire stadium turns to wave to the nearby children's hospital.

Still, the Hawkeye Wave is just one reason to head to eastern Iowa this autumn. In fact, the overlooked city is full of pleasant surprises, including the Devonian Fossil Gorge, an ancient ocean floor from hundreds of millions of years ago.

The Colorado Buffaloes have been generating tons of buzz since Deion Sanders or "Coach Prime" took over and their hometown of Boulder remains a coveted destination.

Located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, this college town is a hiker's and climber's dream and also offers tremendous?shopping opportunities?at the Pearl Street Mall, loads of art and museums and stellar restaurants.

You'll find Notre Dame fans all across the country but the loudest cheers come from South Bend, a Midwest city that lives for the Fighting Irish. After all, three of its most iconic landmarks are the Golden Dome, Notre Dame Stadium and Touchdown Jesus, a 14-story-high mural facing the north end zone of the aforementioned stadium.

There's nothing quite like a gameday experience in Norman,?Oklahoma?so visitors won't want to skip town before catching a matchup at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Nonetheless, there's a lot more to check out, including picnic-friendly parks like Andrews Park as well as the taproom at 405 Brewing Co. and the indoor custom-built play area at Adventure Town.

The?Louisiana capital?isn't your typical college town as it boasts a population well over 200,000 but its a worthwhile stop on your football-fueled road trip thanks to the overwhelming passion surrounding LSU Tigers football.

In addition to oozing Southern charm, the city's size means there's a lot more to see and do, including casinos and dozens of museums and parks.

Austin?is certainly known for its?live music scene,?world-class BBQ?and outdoor spaces. However, it's also home to the University of Texas' flagship campus and the top-ranked Longhorns football team.

The?LGBTQ-friendly city also offers unrivaled nightlife and entertainment as well as a plethora of popular festivals, including the Austin City Limits Music Festival in October. It's even among the?best cities to visit by bike.

The Boise State Broncos have come to be known as the perennial contender with the blue turf but the city they call home has got a ton more to offer, from a series of riverfront trails and parks to historic sites such as the?Boise?train depot and Old Idaho Penitentiary that dates back more than 150 years.?

The North Dakota State Bison have had a stranglehold on the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of late, winning 10 national championships since 2011.

Fargo certainly embraces its Bison but boasts a lot more than high-quality college football, including the iconic Fargo Theatre, the Red River Zoo and the Fargo Air Museum. Visitors will also discover some of the best craft beer in the North and one-of-a-kind cultural and historical attractions.

After winning the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff in January, the Ohio State Buckeyes once again enter the college football season with high expectations, making their home city of?Columbus?a must-visit destination this fall.

Sure, the Ohio State Marching Band's "Dotting the I" is one of the coolest traditions in the sport but there's lots of other fun to dive into, including the Scioto Mile of parks and trails and the charming German Village.